Just Keep Going

by Donna Blaber

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Pub Date Jul 15 2022 | Archive Date Jan 15 2023

Lighthouse Media Group | Lighthouse Books

Children's Fiction | Middle Grade | Teens & YA

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Description

Becky always loved visiting her dad in New Zealand until she returns during the pandemic.

Now he’s got a baby with her new stepmum and everything has changed. Worse still, her windsurfer hasn’t arrived yet, so there’s nothing for her to do but wait for Mum who is stuck overseas.

Then Becky finds a strange stone at Whale Bay and her luck changes. She makes new friends, joins an environmental group, borrows a windsurfer, and has several close encounters with a bottlenose dolphin who simply won’t leave her alone.

But what is wrong with the dolphin? Is it trying to tell her something? Is it sick? And who are the people poaching fish from the marine reserve? How is it all connected? Becky must find a way to solve it all.

Just Keep Going is a story of blended families, new friendships, marine pollution, a magical stone, a persistent dolphin, and a young girl with a strong will to succeed, adapting to life in a new country.

ISBN 978-1-927229-781 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-927229-774 (Kindle)

ISBN 978-1-927229-798 (E-pub)

ISBN 978-1-927229-804 (Audio - retail)

ISBN 978-1-927229-811 (Audio - library)

A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of New Zealand.

Becky always loved visiting her dad in New Zealand until she returns during the pandemic.

Now he’s got a baby with her new stepmum and everything has changed. Worse still, her windsurfer hasn’t...

Advance Praise

Beta reader feedback in target age group:

"Just Keep Going is a story about a girl I can really relate to, so I find it very special and will always love it for that reason." Emma Davidson, age 13.

"I really liked Becky's character. At the start I thought she may be one of those moody main characters but she turned out to be a nice person. The writing and flow of the story was good too because it was easy to read." Kiri, age 10.

"It has a very magical vibe to it." Ngapera, age 13.

Beta reader feedback from older teen readers:

"I love how you [the author] have addressed some really important environmental issues." Indigo, age 14.

"I've just finished beta reading Just Keep Going and I really enjoyed it! I loved the different relationship dynamics." Natalya, 17

"The obsidian stone is back, and someone new has found it! Becky, a young teen from the UK has moved to the seaside community of Ngunguru with her dad, stepmum, and little brother Ben. She's waiting for her mum to arrive and there's nothing to do because her windsurfer hasn't arrived. Everything seems so unfair. There's the old lady she stalks who lives next door, three girls who seem obsessed with her stone and a dolphin that follows her around. What is going on?" Carolyn, age 14.

Beta reader feedback in target age group:

"Just Keep Going is a story about a girl I can really relate to, so I find it very special and will always love it for that reason." Emma Davidson, age 13.

"I...

Marketing Plan

Managed by publicist.

Karen McKenzie, Lighthouse PR: karen@lighthousepr.co.nz

New Zealand Magazines:

• NZ Listener, review

• Magpies Magazine, review

• Tots to Teens promotion

• Grapevine Magazine, promotion

New Zealand Newspapers:

• NZME regional newspapers, (Hawkes Bay Today, Northern Advocate, Bay of Plenty Times, Wanganui Chronicle, Wairarapa Times Age and Rotorua Daily Mail, review

• Whakatane Beacon, promotion

• Local newspapers, interviews

New Zealand Radio:

• Hokonui FM, promotion

• KickArts review

• Today FM, promotion on Polly Gillespie’s Lifestyle Show

• Local radio, interview

New Zealand online/other:

• NZ Booklovers review

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• kidsbooksnz.blogspot.com, review

• The Book Whisperer, promotion on Twitter